Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

Hibiki Tachibana looked equally dejected, but she forced herself to cheer up and comfort her companion who was worried about the current situation.

“I understand, but I’m really worried… what will we do if she gets away this time too?”

Hibiki Tachibana's words of comfort, while not exactly effective, were better than nothing, and Chris's worries did not diminish in the slightest.

After their battle with Zero ended, they were all given physical examinations by SONG's medical facilities and provided with appropriate rest areas.

However, Chris could never truly rest; she remained remarkably intelligent.

And the clever girl truly understood that this was probably their last chance to put their hands around Lingyi's body.

If Zero manages to escape this time, they will never be able to defeat her again. With her limitless potential for growth, she will only become stronger when she returns.

It is so powerful that even the combined attacks of XD mode might not be able to defeat it.

By then, Chris's dream of a normal relationship with Zero will remain just a dream.

[I can't accept it, I absolutely can't accept it... But even if I can't accept it, what can I, in my current weak state, do? What can I possibly do?]

The thought of this added even more negative emotions to Chris's already bad mood, such as anxiety, panic, and sadness.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it! Why couldn't I have realized it sooner? Why couldn't I have held on a little longer!"

"It's just a bunch of noise. We could have just eliminated them as usual. If we'd checked a little longer, we might have been able to confirm something..."

"Why can't I... do my best?"

Chris slammed her fist against the wall, her emotions mingling with her tears, which fell to the ground, forming patterns of resentment.

"Chris-chan..."

Hibiki Tachibana wanted to offer comforting words while pretending not to care about Chris's behavior, but she couldn't do it at that moment.

The emotions that Chris vented were the shadows that loomed over the hearts of all the players.

The thought that they failed because they couldn't do it despite having such favorable conditions filled each of them.

In fact, having fought Lingyi so many times, they all knew that there was no way to find her anymore; the girl's skills in escaping and hiding far surpassed all of theirs.

Even though everyone in SONG is very professional and hardworking, they just can't do it. They can't even imagine that Lingyi would be found so easily.

"Ha...haha, what should I do..."

"Chris-chan?!"

Just as Tachibana Hibiki was silently watching Chris vent her emotions.

Suddenly, seemingly due to exhaustion from continuous battles and deep worry, Chris, who had just been full of 'energy', collapsed in front of her, unconscious.

P.S. Good evening.

Chapter Fifty-One Holiday

What's wrong with me?

After the connection to consciousness was severed, I fell into chaos. In the chaos, chaotic and tangled thoughts flew freely in my mind. In the midst of these free-flowing thoughts, I reached out and grabbed something, and when I opened my palm, I saw that what I had grasped was still that golden hue.

[Something precious... I want to preserve it, no, I don't want it to disappear!]

Then, the golden light burst open in my palm, turning into a fleeting glimmer of light before vanishing like fireworks. No matter how hard I tried to grasp it again, I could never get the same golden light back.

"do not want!"

She opened her eyes in a panic and reached out her hand. All Chris saw was the familiar ceiling and her empty hand.

"Chris, are you alright? How are you feeling? You just fainted?"

A worried voice came from the side. Turning around, he saw a flaxen-haired girl looking at him with a worried expression.

"Chris, I understand your eagerness, but it's best not to engage in strenuous activities until you've fully recovered."

“You, and other players, are different from Xiang.”

"In the previous fusion, Hibiki's body adapted to coexisting with the artifact to some extent. However, for you who are fusing with the artifact for the first time, the damage to your bodies caused by the fusion will take more time to repair."

At the same time, a machine about the size of a thermos emanated from the side, emitting a female voice.

"what is this?"

Looking at the machine with a puzzled expression, Chris subconsciously asked a question.

"Ah, this is Miss Ryoko. It is said that Master and the others dug her out of the ruins. It seems that Miss Ryoko's soul was imprisoned in this thing by Rei-chan."

Hibiki Tachibana gave a simple explanation of the origin of this.

"Wait, so this is Finney?"

Looking at the small machine in front of her, and recalling the advice that had just come from it, Chris didn't know what kind of expression to make.

"Yes, it's me. After all, your bodies need to be recuperated after being fused with the relics. When it comes to experience in fusing relics, I'm afraid no one here is better than me."

The machine emitted a helpless and weary voice.

Having almost been buried underground in darkness, she was still able to perform physical examinations on the musicians after being unearthed, and even she was quite exhausted.

"In short, Chris, you're fine. Just reduce your exercise, eat more fruit, and don't put any more strain on your body, or it will get worse."

"I'm going to check on the situation on the other side first. You can rest slowly."

Seeing that Chris was alright, Finney signaled to the nurse who was helping her move to take the machine to another location.

"Has Finney finally given up on being human?"

"Hahaha..."

Watching the little machine being carried away by the nurse, Chris finally couldn't help but complain about the current situation. Tachibana Hibiki also smiled, after all, she had also lost control of her expression when she first saw Finney like this.

"But, I'm so glad you're alright, Chris. I was quite startled when you fainted just now."

Getting back to the main point, the fact that Chris was healthy put Tachibana Hibiki's mind at ease.

"Are you alright... Ah, I'm fine physically, but I can't say about other parts of my body."

Chris struggled to her feet at Tachibana Hibiki's words, then looked out the window at the rising sun after a moment's thought.

"Other places?"

"Hey, BAKA, do you really think that after this, after today, we... will still have a way to defeat Zero?"

Hibiki Tachibana was puzzled, and then Chris asked her a question.

After asking the question, Hibiki Tachibana, who had seemed relaxed, fell silent.

If anyone has the most direct experience of Zero's strength, it must be her, who has clashed with Zero head-on on multiple occasions.

Therefore, she knew better than anyone that their power had reached its limit in the current situation, the limit of miracles.

However, this extreme power was insufficient to deliver a truly decisive blow when facing the already strained Zero Clothes.

Therefore, Hibiki Tachibana could never be certain whether they would still be able to defeat each other when Rei recovered and became even stronger.

"It seems you understand perfectly well as well."

Seeing Tachibana Hibiki's expression, Chris understood that she already knew what the situation was.

Even so, I will not give up.

Although she understood, Hibiki Tachibana remained stubborn in her thinking. She had no intention of letting go and allowing someone to fall toward a sad ending.

"What's the use of not giving up..."

Chris had completely lost all confidence in this regard.

Her gaze drifted down from the window, and the bustling crowds rushing to work came into view, just like always.

This peaceful daily life is something Chris could easily access—something of unparalleled light and hope, completely detached from shadows—if she were to give up just a little bit of something.

And as long as she ignores the things that have fallen into the mire and can't get out in the shadows, and takes a step forward, she can easily stride towards this happy new life.

Ultimately, what does saving her have to do with me? I've already done my best, and there's nothing I can do if I can't.

“…”

Silence fell over Chris, who was speechless for a moment after thinking about this.

"Chris-chan?"

Hibiki Tachibana was somewhat worried when Chris suddenly fell silent.

"It's nothing, I'm fine now. You can go now, I want to be alone for a while."

"Chris-chan... um, I understand."

Without saying much, the silent Chris spoke again, suggesting that Tachibana Hibiki leave first. Although Tachibana Hibiki was somewhat concerned, she ultimately had no reason to refuse Chris's idea and left first.

"……call."

After Tachibana Hibiki left, Chris looked out the window at the sky.

The azure sky was as clean as transparent glass, and the sunlight shone down on the earth without any obstruction.

Then, turning my gaze to the phone, it showed that today was a sunny day, with clean and comfortable weather from morning till night.

Such weather not only puts people in a good mood, but also provides a stage for many events to take place.

"There's one last way..."

Now that all the conditions are met, Chris has one last idea: how to find Zero's whereabouts in the present.

Chris, whose thoughts had shifted in this direction, had a determined glint in her eyes.

She understood that this was probably her last chance to see Lingyi, so she had to figure out what to do with this elusive opportunity that she didn't even know if it existed.

"Anyway, if we ask for too much, it's impossible to succeed. She's so strong, she's bound to fail eventually. So let's just lower our expectations a bit."

Finally, sitting on the bed, Chris thought about many things in her mind in the early morning. In the end, as if she had let go of something, she picked up the communicator by the bedside.

"Hey, sir, I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Picking up the communicator and connecting to Kazanari Genjuro's private line, Yukine Chris's gaze gradually turned serious.

[Yukine, what's wrong? What can I do for you?]

Upon connecting the call, a puzzled voice came from Kazanari Genjuro.

"Inhale...exhale—first thing, could you please get me a pen and a piece of paper?"

[That's possible, but couldn't you just use your phone to record anything you want to?]

"Because... this is very important, and it absolutely has to be written by hand. Anyway, don't worry about it, uncle. And then, the second thing, please..."

The communication was completed, and the request was earnest; this was Chris's last remaining sentiment.

Therefore, she wanted to ask the most reliable person in her heart who could do what she wanted, with the most solemn attitude and the most serious manner.

......

The pendulum of time swings, morning dissipates, the morning passes, noon arrives, and afternoon comes.

At SONG's temporary headquarters, a group of musicians, including Hibiki Tachibana, Chris, Tsubasa, Tsukuyomi, Kirika Akatsuki, Maria, and Mirai, were summoned to the conference room.

They were then told a certain fact.

"A holiday? Uncle, you're giving us a holiday at this time?"

Feng Mingyi was slightly puzzled, wondering if he had misheard something.

"Yes, it's a holiday. The search for Zero Clothes is not over yet, so maintaining your condition is an important task."

"To maintain your condition, simply resting in bed is not enough; playing and having fun will be more helpful for your mental recovery."

"In conclusion, today, tomorrow and the day after are your holidays, and you have free time to do as you please."

Kazanari Genjuro's fellow musicians explained the theoretical basis of his ideas in a reasoned and well-founded manner.

"Hmm... Is this a holiday?"

"Even so, Sister Lingyi hasn't found... can she really relax?"

Xiaoqiege and Yuedu Diao felt somewhat uncomfortable with this sudden holiday and relaxation.

Only a day had passed since they fought fiercely, and with the outcome of the battle still pending, they were unsure if they could relax.

“It’s okay, finishing up is the job of the rest of us in SONG. You’ve done a good job.”

In response, Genjuro Kazanari stated that this is their job, and the current performers should simply continue to enjoy their vacation.

"Holiday...Holiday...Even though Master said that, I'm not in the mood and don't know what to do."